Block-forming machine



A. wlcKsTRoM.

`BLOCK .mamma MAcHm. APPLICATION FILED JULY 24| |920.

1,393,189, Patented oet. 11, 1,921.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l ALFRED wlcKsTRoM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. WICKSROM. BLOCK FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, |920.

ALFRED wvcrrsTiaor/lI UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED wIcxsTnoM, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AssIGNoR or ONE-FOURTH 'ro FREDERICK BAIN AND ONE-FOURTH. To JAMES E. BAIN, or MINNEAPOLIS, MIN- NESOTA.

BLOCK-FORMING MACHINE.

Application led July 24,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, ALFRED lWIcKsTRoM, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, 'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block- F'orming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines used for the purpose of manipulating forms between which are cast cement or concrete building blocks, and the object is to provide a particularly novel, practical and eificient machine for said purpose` The invention is clearly illustrated in thel accompanying drawings, in which:`

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the machine. y

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine or as seen from the bottom in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa side view of the machine as seen in Fig. 2, but showing one of the forms in retracted position.

Fi 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing both forms retracted.

F ig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 7 .and 8 designate two end pieces of a frame which are connected by two bars 9 and 10. A centrally positioned shaft 11 is journaled at its ends in said end pieces 7 and 8, and is provided with a crank 12. A portion 11a of the shaft 11 is larger in diameter than the adjacent part, and is provided with screw threads 13, which are adapted to screw into a block 14 on a member 15. Said member 15 has two pipes 16 and 17 which are slidable on the bars 9 and 10 respectively. Two collars 18 and 19 are also slidable on the bars 9 and 10, and are respectively provided with rods 20, 21 which slide in key ways in the upper sides of the pipes 16 .and 17. A suitable platform 22 is supported on the rods 20, 21.

The block 28 which is to be cast in this machine is molded upon the platform 22 by two forms 24 and 25, which are respectively secured by bolts 26 tothe members 7 and 15. It is obvious that almost any shape of block can be cast by merely changing the forms as desired, but it is quite necessary in all cases to provide a lip extension 27 on each form Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

1920.4 serial No. 398,802.

so that no opening will be left between them when the blocks are being pressed into shape.

In the operation of the device, when a block is to be cast the forms 24 and 25 are broughtV together over the platform 22 and the intervening open space is filled in with the proper' concrete mixture. If it is desired to slightly compress the blocks such compression may be had by turning the crank 12 which will pull the two forms together..

l/Vhen the block is hard enough to be removed from the forms the crank 12 is turned to the left. As the shaft portion 11,a screws out of the block 14 the mold 24 will be drawn directly away from the block`23, When the screw 18 gets free from the block 14 the form 24 can be pulled back until the piece 8 meets the collars 19, as shown in Fig. 3. If the end piece 7 is pulled still farther the collar 19 will be pushed up until it meets the member 15, as shown in Fig. 4. This last movement will cause the platform 22 to be moved away from the form 25, thus leaving the block 23 clear on all sides. The platform 22, on which is supported the building block, can now be pulled out and a new platform inserted for the next block.

It is understood that suitable modifications in the form and structure of this machine may be made if such modications come within the scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully shown and described my invention what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a suitable platform on which may be supported a building block, two forms positioned on said platform and adapted to mold said block, means for retracting one of said forms from said block, and means for subsequently moving said platform away from the other form toward the rst mentioned form.

2. A device of the class described consisting of a suitable frame, a member slidably mounted on the frame, a form secured to said member, a second form secured to one end of the frame, means for drawing said frame end and said member together so as to compress a block adapted to be molded between said forms.

3. A device of the class described consisting of a suitable frame, a member slidably mounted on the frame, a form secured to said member, a second form secured to one end of thel frame, means for drawing said frame end ,and said member together so as to compress a block adapted to be molded between said forms7 a removable platform under said forms adapted to support said block.

t. In a device of the class described, a frame consisting of .a pair of parallel horizontal bars connected at their ends'by end pieces, a member slidably mounted on said barsa form secured to said member and a second co-acting form secured to one of said end pieces, said forms'being adapted to be moved directly to and from each other. 5. .In a device of the class described7 a frame consisting of a pair of parallel horizontal bars connected at their ends by end pieces, a member slidably mounted on said bars, a form secured to said member and a second co-acting form secured toone of said end pieces7 said forms being adapted to be moved directly toand from each other,

6. In a device of the class described, a frame consisting of a pair of parallel horizontal bars connected at their ends byl end pieces, a member slidably mounted on said bars, a-form secured to said memberand a second (1o-acting form secured to one of said end pieces,a platform positioned under said forms, collars slidably mounted on said bars intermediate said member and the other end piece, rods secured to said collars and eX- tending through said member and supporting said platform. Y 1 Y 7. A device of the class described consist-l ing of a suitable frame, a member mounted to slide longitudinally on said frame, a form secured to said member and a Second form secured to one end of the frame, a shaft jour-V naled longitudinally in the frame and having an enlarged threaded portion under` said forms, said shaft extending through said member .and having its threaded portion adapted to screw therein When said forms are'in relatively lclose position. Y

Intestifmony whereof l afiix my signature.

means for forcing said forms toward each other When injrelatively close position.

ALFRED. WICKSTROM. 

